KD downplays Embiid's comments about Team USA's age

Kevin Durant downplayed Joel Embiid's recent suggestion that Team USA's roster was collectively old and "not what they used to be."

"Of course, we're older and we all have mileage on our bodies," Durant told reporters Thursday, including The Athletic's Joe Vardon, ahead of the United States' Olympic title defense. "But we figure out ways to be effective, just as (Embiid) has as he's gone through injuries."

The American roster features six players age 30 or older, including 39-year-old LeBron James.

Embiid specifically referenced the Los Angeles Lakers superstar in an interview with The New York Times last week, saying "The LeBron now is not the LeBron that was a couple of years ago."

However, James has arguably been the Stars and Stripes' top player in their pre-Olympic tuneups.

The four-time Finals MVP is leading the squad in both scoring and assists. He scored a late basket to rescue the U.S. from a huge upset loss to South Sudan and tallied the final 11 points for Team USA in its tight victory over Germany.

"The thing about greatness is that you adjust and continue to find ways to be effective," Durant said. "That's what LeBron has done. He's not running and jumping the same way he was when he was 25, 26 years old, but he's still jumping pretty high and running pretty fast."

The Americans begin their quest for a fifth straight Olympic gold medal Sunday against Serbia.